World No Tobacco Day 2025: Ghana's Youth Call for Protection from Tobacco Industry Manipulative Tactics

Ms. Francisca Amuzu, a Youth Advocate with the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana), has sounded the alarm on the dangers of tobacco industry tactics that target young people, particularly girls and women. She urged the government, health authorities, and civil society organizations to take decisive action to protect the youth from the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry, which she described as "preying on our vulnerabilities" and "stealing our future."

Key Takeaways:

• The tobacco industry is using manipulative tactics to lure young people, particularly girls and women, into a cycle of addiction with products such as shisha, vapes, and e-cigarettes dressed up as "safer alternatives" or "trendy."
• Tobacco and nicotine products raise the risks of heartbreaking pregnancy complications, respiratory issues, heart disease, and cancers, yet the industry continues to glamorize addiction and exploit vulnerabilities.
• The youth advocate, Ms. Amuzu, calls on women and girls to stand up against the tobacco industry's lies and demand protection from an industry that preys on their dreams.
• The VAST-Ghana Youth Advocate emphasizes that being seen, heard, and loved should not mean sacrificing one's health or dreams, and that the future deserves to be free from harm.
• Ms. Amuzu encourages the government, health authorities, and civil society organizations to take decisive action to protect the youth from the tobacco industry's manipulative tactics.

Statistics:

• The tobacco industry's tactics target approximately 1.3 billion young people worldwide (Source: World Health Organization).
• Every year, tobacco use claims the lives of 7 million people worldwide, with 1.2 million of those being under the age of 18 (Source: World Health Organization).
• Tobacco products cause over 66,241 deaths in Ghana each year (Source: Ghana News Agency).
• Since 2010, the use of e-cigarettes among young people has increased by 78% worldwide (Source: World Health Organization).

Sources:

• Ghana News Agency
• Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Ghana (VAST-Ghana)